The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-08-23

every man hod a right to his own
views, and every other man right to
demolish them if he could sustain his
own position by advancing better
reasons. Every one seemed in earn
est, but ready to listen to those differ
ing with them, crcditing them with
equal sincerity. An announcement
had been made that the Knights of
Labor would discuss the French
Air" panel agitating charitable cir
cles at this time of year, and an invi-
'tation extended to all present 20 at
tend. The "French Air" panels is
one of the most recent exprcssi ons of
tho multitudinous charities of the
present age. II is scheme instituted
by woman with a heart somewhat
in proportion with her purse, to col
lcct the little waits confined in the
bands of city poverty, charter car and
carry them into smaller places along
the line, there to be distributed to
families in the country. The rural
host receives them for few weeks
without remuneration for sweet
charity's sake. 1t is quite the rage at
present, and every one is expected to
open their doors to the little "F'resh
Airs" as they are called. Here in
Chicago the children are colonized in
park near the lake shore, where they
receive the delicious lake breeze in all
its purity. The local patroness is
Mrs. S. The opportunity to see
socialism, at home in its own parlor rs
as it were, did not present every day
and it was improved. After mount.
ing two flights of not very clcanly
stairs in one of the cheaper public
buildings, we found ourselves in the
lodge room Of the knights of Labor.
The apartment was large and square
with chairs arranged around on all
sides for seating the assembly. At
one side was low platform for the
use OF the presiding officer. In the
centre was square altar, some three
feet in height, upholstered in red plush
whose respective sides bore the in
scriptions, Friendship, Love,
Purity The walls were decorat-
ed with small United States flags
arranged variously, and picture frames,
some containing faces of departed pa
triots, but mostly symbolic engravings
like all other lodges. The floor was
carpeted, and furnished with goodly
number of spitoons. The assembly
numbered between fifty and sixty,
four tifths being men, and the remain
der women. The majority were of the
ordinary class of laborcrs. They.were
clothed in cheap goods, mostly whole,
but every man had Oh clean collar,
there was rot single exception.
Business was opened by newspaper
reporter young man tall, dark eyed
and built on the nervous type, who
read paper entitled " An open letter
tor Mrs. ST." the spirit of which SEEM
ed to be the same that prompts stur-
dy, independent worker to fling aims
into the the face of the giver. 1t called
into question the right of the few to
monopolize The necessities of life till
The free air had to be doled out to the
paupcr brother as a gift. He did not
question tho kind heart of woman in
charities, but said it was work at liv-
ing wages that was needed and moi
charity. When he closed the presiding
officer called for reply from some
one representing the other side of the
question. Several made the attempt,
saying that among the rich of our age
there was a growing sentiment of
sympathy for poverty and misfortune,
as expressed in the erection of hos
pitals and other charities; that their
feelings were touched and the desire
inspired in pure and sympathizing
hearts to relieve suffering. 1t was an
honest attempt tc do justice, though
their hearts were evidently with the
other side of the question. Gradually
the restraint of trying to do justice
against feeling wore off and their true
sentiments were expressed. Some al
lusion was made to Dick Turpin, and
the comparison drawn that, while he
robbed the rich to give to the poor,
the rich of the present day insulted
honest toll by robbing it of its just
earnings and then returning mite as
q gratuitous favor; that largess to the
poor was sop thrown to conscience.
One large business house in the city
had given its employees holiday
entertainment, and cut down
wages next day to reimburse the loss.
Another. that had been in the habit
of giving Its cash boys a holi-
day once a year, freed them
this year at p. m. Saturday to util-
ize the evening and give them Sunday
to rccnperate for next weeks work.
All gratuitous charity was degrading
4 eo...hool It ,na1a fro,ppo and